Machine for threading can covers



N 1935- J. M. HOTHERSALL MACHINE FOR THREADING CAN COVERS 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Feb. 20. 1931' INVENTOR gbb L, B

ATTORNEY NOV. 5, 1935. J, HQTHERSALL 2,019,493

MACHINE FOR THREADING CAN COVERS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVEgOR I Z B ATTORNEY 1935- J. M. HOTHERSALL MACHINE FOR THREADING CANCOVERS Filed Feb. 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR fi 2. W

ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1935. J. M. HOTHERSALL 2,019,493

MACHINE FOR THREADING CAN COVERS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Eg? 4 W 5/ 3 INVENTOR /C. ATTORNEY 1935; J. M. HOTHERSALL 2,019,493

MACHINE FOR'THREADING CANCOVERS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A?0 ATTORN EY .Ratented Nov. 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE MACHINE FORTHREADING CAN COVERS John M. Hothersall, BrooklymN. Y., asslgnor' toAmeri can Can Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application February 20, 1931, Serial No.517,241 21 Claims. (Cl. 153-12).

is the provision of a threading machine for operating upon can covers orsimilar articles by shaping a wall of the article between internal andexternal threading elements.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a threadinghead formed with internal'and external threading elements which fit onewithin the other during a threading operation on a can cover.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a machine ofthe character de-- surface of the article being threaded thus insuringmore accurate threading.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is betterunderstood from the following description, which, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodimentthereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure Us a plan view of a machine embodying the invention;

- Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially along thebroken line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary-central sectional views takenthrough the threading head and illustrating a can cover and itsthreading elements in diiferent positions, Fig.3 showing them inthreading position, and Figs. 4 and 5 showing the can cover in twodifferent stages of feeding into the threading elements;

' Fig. 6 is an end elevationof the upper part of the machine;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the can cover feed as viewed along theline in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a typical can cover illustrating theresults obtained in the threading machine.

The machine disclosed in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is adapted to thread articles such as can covers,caps, nozzles, necks, etc., which are provided with cylindricalsections. Can covers of the screw'neck type'are selected to exemplifythe steps of operation. These can covers are fed into the machine inprocessional order through 5 a chute and the lowermost cover is removedfrom. the chute by a sliding feed device which positions it into axialalignment with a holder mandrel.

' The holder mandrel is mounted on one end of 10' a constantly rotatingshaft adapted to move longitudinally to insert themandrel on the insideof the positioned can cover and to carry it into threading position. Anexterior wall of a part oi' the mandrel is threaded and it is thisthreaded part which enters into the can cover the diameter of thethreaded part being less than the diameter of the can coverpart- Aspring-mounted pressure plate assists in holding the can cover duringthis mandrel insertion.

A chuck is mounted adjacent and substantially inline with the mandrel,being secured to a constantly rotating shaft rotatably mounted in alever device which operates to shift the shaft and chuck bodily. Thischuck is cup-shaped and provided with a pocket into which the cover andmandrel move,.the diameter of the pocket being greater than the diameterof that part of the can cover to be threaded. internal wall of the chuckis provided with threads, this constituting a threading die element. Aspring-controlled knockout pad cooperates with the pressure plate toproperly hold the can cover as it reaches its position within the chuck.

Rocking of the chuck shaft lever under cam action now takes place andmoves the threaded part of the chuck into a position eccentric to thethreaded part of the mandrel and clamps the wall of the can covertherebetw'een at a common 'point of 'tangency. The clamped cover rotates40 ings it .will be observed that can covers l8 move by gravity down aninclined chute ll formed in a frame I! and are maintained in a singleline within the chute by side plates l3 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7). The frame I!is slotted. longitudinally of the'chute to form a passage 20 for anextended neck part I4 of the can cover. The frame I2 is an integral partof a bracket I5 bolted to a bed member I5 carried on the upper end ofsupporting legs I1.

The bracket I5 is transversely slotted at I8 and a feed slide 2| hassliding movement therein. The feed slide 2| is provided with a pocket 22which engages, when in retracted position, the neckpart I4 of thelowermost can cover II) as it rests in the chute I I (Fig. 2)

The slide 2| is moved within its slideway I9 and across the stack ofcovers in the chute, cutting out or separating the lowermost cover. Toeffect this movement a link 25 is pivoted at 21 to the slide 2| andpivotally connects at 28 to the end of an arm 29 mounted on a rock shaft3!. The shaft 3| is journaled in brackets 32 (Figs. 1 and 6) projectingoutwardly from the bed I5.

The shaft 3| also carries an arm 33 which is 'pivotally connected at 34to an adjustable link 35 pivotally mounted on a crank pin 35 carried ona disc 31 secured to a longitudinal shaft 38 journaled in bearings 39formed in the bed I5.

The shaft 38 carries a gear 4| which meshes with a pinion 42 secured toa drive shaft 43 journaled in bearings 44 formed in the side walls ofthe bed I5. Power is applied to rotate the shaft 43 in any suitablemanner, as by means of a belt pulley 45 mounted on one end of the shaft.Rotation of the drive shaft, through the described connections,oscillates the shaft 3| and moves the slide 2| back and forth to effectremoval of a can cover from the chute.

The lowermost can cover I during this movement is prevented from fallingforward by an L-shaped plate 45 (Figs. 2 and '1) secured to the face ofthe frame I2. A slot 41 cut in the frame I2 and joining with butextending at right angles from the slot 20 provides the passageway forthe neck I4 of the can cover. The can cover as thus brought into itsforward position by the slide 2| and supported in the pocket 22 of theslide is between faces of the holding mandrel and the chuck.

One ofthe threading elements for the apparatus is carried on the holdermandrel which is mounted for operation above the bed member I5. Thismandrel comprises a disc from which a conical stem 52 projects, the stemterminating in i a cylindrical head 53 of a diameter less than thediameter of the neck part I4 of the can cover I0 and this head isprovided with exterior threading elements 54. The disc 5| is threadedlyengaged on the inner end of a horizontal shaft 55 journaled for rotationand for sliding movement within bearings formed in brackets 55projecting upwardly from the bed I5.

The mandrel disc 5| (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) carries a pressure plate 51 whichis adapted to slide relative to the disc during certain movements of themandrel. The pressure plate is mounted on the forward ends of spacedrods 58 which extend at their rear ends through spring barrels 59threadedly secured in the disc 5|. A coil spring 50' is positioned oneach rod 58 and is partially confined within its spring barrel 59.Locknuts 5| threadedly secured on one end of each rod 58 beyond the endof its spring barrel 59 limit the forward movement of the rod anddetermine the forward position of the plate 51 as held by the springs50.

The can cover I0 in its forward position with the slide 2|, is in axialalignment with the shaft 55 and closely adjacent the end of the mandrelhead 53 (Fig. l) and the pressure plate 51 held at gear 15 at such time.

explained. This longitudinal sliding of the shaft 5 I55 is effected inthe following manner.

A collar 52 (Figs. 1 and 6) is mounted on the 'shaft 55 and is providedwith a peripheral groove 53 in which rollers 54 are located, these beingrotatably carried on pins secured to opposite arms of a yoke 55 mountedon a rock shaft 55 iournaled in bearings formed in brackets 51 bolted tothe bed I5. The rock shaft 55 also carries an arm 58 which is connectedto one end of a spring 58 held at its opposite end on a pin 1| extendingfrom the bed I5.

The arm 58 carries a cam roller 12 which rides on the cam surface of aface cam 13 carried on the shaft 38. The spring 59 holds the roller 12in engagement with its cam 13 and shifting movement of the arm 58 byreason of the contour of the cam is transmitted through the rock shaft55 and the yoke 55, thereby shifting the rollers 54. the collar 52 andthe shaft 55 back and forth.

This collar and roller construction permits con tinual rotation of theshaft 55 throughout its longitudinal movement. Rotation of the shaft iseffected by a gear 14 (Fig. 1) secured thereto which meshes with a gear15 carried on a horizontalshaft 16 journaled in bearings formed inbrackets 80 11 projecting upwardly from the bed I5. The

shaft 16 also carries a gear 18 which meshes with the gear 42 on thedrive shaft 43 (Fig. 2). The gear 42 is sufliciently wide to operatewith both of the gears 18 and 4|. The gear 15 has a sufllciently wideface, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to permit the full sliding movement ofthe shaft 55 while maintaining geared connection between the shafts 55and 15 the gear 14 merely moving along the The threading chuck comprisesa chuck head 8| (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) threadedly mounted on one end of ahorizontal shaft 82 rotatably mounted in a sleeve 83 formed on theforward end of a duplex lever 84 which is mounted for oscillation on theshaft 15, between two of the bearings 11. An arm 85 of the lever 84carries a pin 85 upon which is rotatably mounted a cam roller 81 whichrides upon the periphery of a cam 88 secured to the shaft 38. The roller81 is maintained in engage- 60 ment with the cam 88 by a spring 9|interposed between a pin 92 projecting from the bed I5 and an extension93 formed on the arm 85. The contour of the cam'88 .thus determines theaxial position of the chuck 8| through the controlled oscillation of thelever 84 on its pivot shaft 15.

Provision is made for constantly rotating the shaft 82 with the chuck 8|irrespective of its axial position and for this purpose the shaft Therear wall of the chuck 8| where it is joined to its shaft 82 is recessedat I05 to provide a pocket for a knockout pad I01 formed on the innerend of a knockout rod I08 which terminates in a re-, duced portion I09.The rod I08 and its extension 109 is located in and slideslongitudinally of a duced portion I03 of the rod I and is confinedbetween the junction wall of the rod I00 with its end I09 and a nut |I3threadedly secured in an opening I I0 formed in the end of the shaft02,, this opening communicating with the bore I I I. Locknuts II arethreadedly secured-in an adjusted position on the terminal end of theknockout rod.

Prior to the longitudinal feeding movement of the shaft 55 it is inaxial alignment with the shaft 32 and the knockout pad I01 at suchtime,under the action of the spring I I2, is forward of its recess I05,being within the open end of the pocket |0| of the chuck 0| and its.forward face being substantially flush with the face of the chuck. Thisflush position of the pad is maintained by the locknutsl I5 engaging theouter face of the nut I I3 and limiting the action of the spring "2 onthe rod I00. The pressure plate 51 at this time is in extended orforward position of the disc, 5| as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

The shaft 55 then moves forward and the pressure plate 51 engages thecan cover I0, which is supported at the time on the slide 2|, and movesthe outer face of its neck part I4 into engagement with the face of theknockout pad I01. Continued movement brings the mandrel head 53 into thecan cover, the springs 50 yielding to permit the relative movementbetween the pressure plate 51 and the disc 5| of the mandrel. The springII2, holding the knockout pad I01 in-its forward position, is strongerthan the combined springs 50 and the cover is therefore held clampedbetween the knockout pad I01 and the pressure plate 51 during yieldingof the; springs 50. This initial entering of the mandrel head within thecan cover is illustrated in Fig. 4. The slide 2| moves back out of theway as soon as the can cover is clamped between the plate 51 and theknockout pad I01.

The continued forward movement of the shaft 55 positions the mandrelhead 53 fully within the neck part ll of the can cover at which time theforward face of the mandrel head engages the wall of the can cover, thepressure plate 51 at such time reaching the position illustrated in Fig.5 wherein it is in solid contact with the disc 5|.

- Continued forward movement of the shaft 55 thereafter compresses thespring 2 and the knockout pad I 01 is forced backwardly, the cancover atsuch time ,being moved farther into the pocket I0| of the chuck 3|. Thismovement continues until the knockout pad I01 is fully seated in itsrecess I05 and the can cover has been moved to the position illustratedin Fig. 3, wherein its neck part I 4 is fully within the chamber I02 andits outer flange is held between the face of the chuck ill and thepressure plate 51. It is now in position for threading.

The lever 80 is then oscillated .on its shaft by the'cam 88 and thecenter of the shaft 82 and chuck is brought into a position out ofalignment or eccentric to the center of the shaft 55 and its mandrel.This clamps the wall of the cover neck part I4 between the threadingelements 54 and I03, it being remembered that both mandrel and chuck arerotating constantly at the time. A common point of tangency thus obtainsin the engaged part of the cover and the engaging sections of thethreading elements and this tangency is maintained as the mandrel, coverand chuck rotate on their respective axes. 'A threaded surface (Fig. 8)is thus formed on the neck I0 of the can cover I 0.

The completely threaded can cover is now ready-for discharging from thethreading head 1' and. the shaft 02 is shifted back into axial allsnmentwith the shaft 55 whichthen moves back. The. can cover held on themandrel head 53 by the knockout pad I01 is thus carried out of the 5 7pocket I0| of the chuck 0|, the pad I01 following the mandrel head underthe action of its spring I I2 and knocking out or stripping it from thechamber I02 until stopped by the nuts 5' striking against the outerwallof the nut I|3 l0 Duringthis movement the springs 50 of the pressureplate 51 are under compression andthe pressure plate is against the disc5|, spring 2 being much stronger than the combined springs.

80. -.In this manner the can cover clears the 15' chuck 0| but is stillheld between the .pad I01 and the pressure plate 51 while the disc 5|and the mandrel head 53 .continue to movebackward, the springs 50thereupon, expanding and retaining the pressure plate in cover clamping-20 position against the pad I01. a

The pressure plate 51 under the action of its expanding springs holdsthe can cover in this clamped position (Fig. 4) until the rods 58 haveslid through the disc 5| and the nuts 5| strike against'the ends of thespring barrels 59 (Fig. 1) At such engagement the face of the plate 51is then flush with the face of the mandrel head .53 and the finalmovement of theshaft 55 draws the plate 51 away from the can cover I0.The

engaged by the threading elements and the result is an easier and moreaccurate threading action. The threading element of the mandrel 0 beingenclosed within the threading element of the chuck furthermore insuresgreater rigidity of the threading parts by. one-partsupporting theother. The can cover being spring-held by the pressure plateagainst theface of the chuck also aids in correct threading action and there istherefore not the tendency for the parts to be, moved outof alignment.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionandarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material ad- 05 vantages, theform hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I 'claim: 7

- 1. In a can coverthreading machine, the combination of a holdermandrel adapted to engage 00 the interior of a can cover for a threadingoperation, a chuck mounted adjacent said mandrel and having an insidesurface formed as a thread- I ing die, means for moving the chuck bodilysidewise for pressing the cover against said threading die, and meansfor rotating said mandrel, cover and chuck while the cover is against:said die to form threads in the cover.

2. In a. can cover threading machine, the combination of a holdermandrel having threads 10 r formedin its surface and adapted to engagethe* interior of a can cover fora threading operation, a chuck mountedadjacent said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threadingdie, andmeans for moving the chuck bodily side- 15 wise for pressing thecover between said threading die and the threads formed on said mandrelto form threads in the cover.

3. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrelmounted on a mandrel shaft and having threads formed on its sur:

face, a chuck mounted on a chuck shaft parallel.

. bodily shifting said chuck shaft while maintaining parallelism withsaid mandrel shaft to move said chuck and press the cover between saidthreading die and the threads formed on said mandrel to form threads inthe cover.

4. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrelmounted on a mandrel shaft and having threads formed on its surface, achuck mounted on a chuck shaft parallel to said mandrel shaft, saidchuck having an inside surface formed as a threading die, means forimparting axial movement to said mandrel shaft to insert said mandrelinto the cover and move the cover into said chuck, means for bodilyshifting said chuck shaft while maintaining parallelism with saidmandrel shaft to move said chuck and press the cover between saidthreading die and the threads formed on said mandrel to form threads inthe cover, and means for rotating said mandrel and said chuck duringmovements of their respective shafts and during the thread formingoperation.

5. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandreladapted toengage the interior of a can cover for a, threading operation,a chuck mounted adiacent said mandrel and having an inside surfaceformed as a threading die, means for moving said mandrel first into apositioned can cover and then with said cover into said chuck, and meansfor moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressing the cover against saidthreading die to form threads in the cover.

6. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandreladapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threading operation,a pressure plate carried by said man-- drel, a chuck mountedadjacentsaid mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading die, andmeans for moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressing the coveragainst said threading die while holding it against said pressure platein position on said chuck to form threads in the cover.

7. 'In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holdermandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threadingoperation, feeding devices for positioning a cover in axial alignmentwith said mandrel, a chuck: mounted adjacent said mandrel and having aninside surface formed as a threading die, means for moving said mandrelto engage the positioned cover and move it into said chuck, and meansfor moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressing the cover against saidthreading die to form threads in the cover.

8. In a can cover threading. machine, the combination of a holdermandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threadingoperation, feeding devices for positioning a cover in axial alignmentwith said mandrel, a chuck mounted adjacent said mandrel and having an.inside surface formed as a threading die, means combination of a holdermandrel,

for moving said mandrel to engage the positioned cover and move it intosaid chuck and means for moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressingthe cover against said threading die while in said chuck, and means forrotating said man- '5 drel, cover and chuck to cause said threading dieto traverse the circumference of the cover wall to form threads therein.

9. In a can cover threading machine, the com bination of a rotatableholder mandrel having external threads formed on its surface, a rotat--able chuck having an inside surface formed with internal threads andadapted to extend around said mandrel, means for positioning a can coveron-said mandrel and within said chuck, and 16 means for positioning saidmandrel and chuck eccentric to one another and clamping a wall of thecover between said external and internal threads of said rotatingmandrel and chuck, and means for rotating the mandrel and chuck to 20form threads in said cover wall.

10. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a rotatableholder mandrel having external threads formed on its surface, arotatable chuck-having an inside surface formed with internal threadsand adapted to extend around said mandrel, means for positioning a cancover on said mandrel and within said chuck, means for positioning saidmandrel and chuck eccentric to one another and clamping a wall of thecover between said external and. internal threads of said rotatingmandrel and chuck, and means for rotating the mandrel and chuck to formthreads in said cover wall, and means for discharging the threaded coverfrom said chuck.

11. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of 'a rotatableholder mandrel having external threads formed on its surface, arotatable chuck having an inside surface formed with internal threads,means for positioning a 40- can cover on said mandiel and within saidchuck, means for positioning said mandrel and chuck eccentric to oneanother and clamping a wall of the cover between said external andinternal threads of said rotating mandrel and chuck to form threads insaid cover wall, means for discharging the threaded cover from saidchuck, and means for ejecting the cover from said mandrel.

12. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a rotatable,cylindrical, holder mandrel having external threads formed on itsperiphery and of a diameter less than the diameter of a wall of the can.cover to be threaded,

a rotatable chuck formed with a cylindrical, in-

can cover.

13. In a can cover threading machine, the a chuck mounted adjacentthereto, means for feeding a can cover between said chuck and saidmandrel, means for yieldingly supporting the can cover while moving itwith said mandrel into said chuck, and threading elements carried .bysaid chuck and said mandrel for forming threads in g the can cover whilein said chuck, and means 15 1 for moving one of said threaded partsbodily sidewise relative to the other.

14. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holdermandrel, a chuck mounted adjacent thereto, means for feeding a can coverbetween said chuck and said mandrel, means for yieldingly supporting thecan cover while moving it with said mandrel into said chuck, means forrotating said mandrel, cover and chuck, and threading elements carriedby said chuck and said mandrel for forming threads in the can coverwhile in said chuck, and means for moving one of said threaded partsbodily sidewise relative to the other.

15. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holdermandrel, a chuck mounted adjacent thereto, meansfor feeding a can coverbetween said chuck and said mandrel, means for yieldingly supporting thecan cover while moving it with said mandrel into said chuck, threadingelements carried by said chuck and said mandrel for forming threads inthe can cover while in said chuck, and means associated with saidyieldingsupporting means for discharging the threaded cover from saidchuck.

16. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of male and femalescrew-threading members, means arranging said members in axial alignmentand spaced relation for the reception of the cover, means for thereaftertelescoping said members with the outer threading member enclosing theinner threading member and means for arranging them in relativelyeccentric position to clamp said cover between the thread form- .ingsurfaces, and means for rotating said members.

17. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of, a holdermandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threadingoperation, a chuck mounted adjacent and adapted to extend around saidmandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading die, meansfor moving one of said parts sidewise relative to the other, forpressing the cover against said threading die to form threads in thecover, and yielding clamping means operating at front and rear of thecan cover between which the cover can slide edgewise while the mandrelis operating within the chuck and the chuck is operating on the outsideof the cover.

18. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of an axiallymovable holder mandrel adapted to engage the interior of and support 'a10 can cover for a threading operation, a chuck. mounted concentricallywith said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading dieand means for moving one of said parts out of concentricity with theother, thereby pressing-the 16 cover against said threading die to formthe threads in the cover.

19. In a can cover threading machine in combination, an inner threadingmember, a complementary outer threading member concentric with 20 saidinner member before the threading action proper, means for moving saidmembers out of concentricity during the threading action proper andmeans for continuously revolving said members.

20. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holdermandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threadingoperation, a complementary threading .member mounted in axial alignment.with said mandrel, 30 and opposed yielding means adapted to engage acan cover in advance of said mandrel and member, one of said means alsoadapted to function as a knockout device.

21. In acan cover threading machine, the com- 85 bination of male andfemale threading members mounted in axial alignment with each other,means for feeding a can cover to be threaded into axial alignment withsaid members and opposed yielding means adapted to cooperatively 40 holdsaid can cover free of said members before and after the threadingoperation.

Q JOHN M. HOTHERSALL.

